The Best "Stretch" You’re Not Doing

Use this novel movement to improve your mobility quickly

Can you do a “real” squat? By real, we mean that you can lower your body until the tops of your thighs are at least parallel to the floor. (And lower is better.) If your answer is no, you’re not alone. Because we spend much of our time sitting, many guys have tight hip muscles. This limits your range of motion and prevents you from being able to perform a good, deep squat. The upshot: You work less muscle with every rep, and your athletic performance suffers.

Ever seen a toddler squat? Most are able to lower themselves until their butt touches the backs of their ankles—and they’re able to do it with ease. Unfortunately, as we age, many of us lose this ability. But you can start to regain your mobility with an exercise called “squat with prying.” Try it before every workout, as part of your warmup. You’ll be amazed at how good it will make you feel—and how effective it can be for helping you squat correctly. Watch the video to learn how to do squat with prying with perfect form.